France REFONA 2 – Restoration and Conservation of the flat oyster in Nouvelle Aquitaine Phase 2

REFONA 2 is following REFONA project which highlighted the presence of native oyster population in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (west coast of France), their genetic variabilities, their health (marteiliose & bonamiose), the associated macrofauna …

REFONA 2 aims to better understand the determining factors of the beds in Nouvelle-Aquitaine to choose the best restoration strategy to set up on each site.

The main actions of the project will focus on:

Pursuing the characterization of the native oyster’s vitality (reproduction, recruitment, health, …)
Defining a native oyster habitat indicator for the Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Starting to test the most adapted restorative action based on REFONA 1 & 2 results.

A PhD is in progress on REFONA 2.

REFONA 2 is a project lead by CAPENA and funded by the Fonds Vert (a State Subvention for the ecological transition), the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) with the two Marine Natural Park of the state (PNM EGMP and PNM BA) and CAPENA.
Ifremer and the LIENSs a mixed research unit of CNRS and La Rochelle university are REFONA 2 partners.
The project started in January 2024 and will end in December 2026.